If you’ve been depressed or anxious for a while, it can be hard to recognize when you are actually getting better. Here are few signs that you are probably on the mend.
- You start forgetting to take your medication. (This is not a recommendation). When you begin to feel better, you naturally gravitate away from your prescriptions. If you find yourself forgetting more than just a few times, you need to consult with a medical professional. It may be time to change your dose or to start tapering off. Never quit a medication without notifying your doctor and/or therapist.
- You find yourself singing along with the car radio. Few depressed people rock out in their cars. When you catch yourself on the freeway pretending you are Pink or Adam Lambert, it could be a sign that you are feeling some happiness. Just notice it and take it in.
- Things that used to scare you don’t anymore. You may find yourself driving to places that you were too overwhelmed to visit previously. You could be thinking about asking for a promotion or a raise or about looking for a new job. You may also find yourself standing up to people who may have intimidated you in the past. These are all signs of inner strength.
- You are ready to make some big changes to your living situation. You may want to move or to remodel the house. It may be that you associate your surroundings with when you were feeling bad, so wanting to change them is a way of telling yourself that you are ready to feel good again. I would try moving some furniture around or taking a trip, however, before putting the house on the market.
- You are able to take your disappointments in stride. Incidents that would have upset you before and caused you to go into a tailspin feel more like minor inconveniences now. This is a great sign that you are healing from within. Whenever you can take disappointment in stride, you are robbing your negative emotions of their power, which allows you to put your emotional energy to better use.
- You understand that bad days are only temporary. For someone who has been battling a mood disorder, bad days can be worrisome, because the question of a relapse is never far away. You’re getting better when you can see that you are coming out of a difficult place, despite momentary setbacks.
- You have more moments of peace and you are sleeping better. Both are signs that your mood is on the mend. You may not recognize those peaceful moments right away, but if you are used to waking up with anxiety and you are doing this less often, you are moving in the right direction.
As you continue to heal, you will also grow as a person and your relationships will deepen. It’s possible to get used to feeling down. Don’t let that happen to you, but hold fast to the positive events and changes that you feel as you become more empowered.
About the Author: Barton Goldsmith
Honored by several professional associations, Dr. Barton Goldsmith is a multi-award winning syndicated columnist, radio host, psychotherapist, as well as a recognized keynote speaker. Since 2002, Dr. Goldsmith’s weekly column, Emotional Fitness, which is syndicated by Tribune News Service, and has been featured in over 5 s00 publications including The San Francisco Chronicle, The Chicago Sun-Times, The Detroit News, and Time Magazine, giving him a substantial readership. He has been interviewed on numerous TV/Radio shows and for many publications; his expert advice is regularly featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine and he is also the top blogger for Psychology Today, his Emotional Fitness blog has had over 34 Million views.
Dr. Goldsmith has authored several books including; Emotional Fitness for Couples – 10 Minutes a Day to a Better Relationship was published by New Harbinger on Valentine’s Day 2006, and the sequel, Emotional Fitness for Intimacy - Sweeten and Deepen Your Love in Just 10 Minutes a Day released by New Harbinger in April '09. Dr. Goldsmith also published Emotional Fitness at Work – 6 Strategic Steps to Success Using the Power of Emotion, the third in the Emotional Fitness book series, that was released in September ’09 by Career Press, who also published 100 Ways to Boost Your Self-Confidence – Believe in Yourself and Others Will Too in May of 2010. His latest book, The Happy Couple, another New Harbinger publication was released on December 1st, 2013. His next book, “100 Ways to Overcome Shyness” was published by Career Press just last year.
He has appeared on CNN, Good Morning America, Fox & Friends, CBS News, NBC News, Beauty and The Geek, The Ricki Lake Show and The Mancow Muller Show. Dr. Barton also served as the national spokesperson for the Mars Candy My M&M's Treasured Moments Challenge, and is currently the national spokesperson for the SunTender Pre-Marital Mentoring Program. “Dr. G” also hosted a weekly radio show on NPR affiliate KCLU, with nearly 90,000 listeners from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. He received recognition from the City of Los Angeles for his work with survivors of the 1994 earthquake. His Emotional Fitness column was the winner of the Clark Vincent Award for Writing from the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. In addition, Dr. G received the Peter Markin Merit Award from the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists for his humanitarian efforts. He has also been named as the recipient of the Joseph A. Giannantonio II Award in recognition of his contributions as an Outstanding Educator in the field of Addiction Medicine, given by The California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Counselors, who also inducted him into The CAADAC Hall of Fame on October 1, 2011. Dr. Goldsmith was a National Merit Scholar and a Professor of Psychology at Ryokan College, Los Angeles. Dr. Goldsmith connects with audiences worldwide with his energetic, uplifting and fun communication style. Not a button-down shrink, “Dr. G” has a unique ability to inspire and entertain which leaves his readers, viewers and listeners always wanting more. “Dr. G” began working as a writer when his career in professional basketball was cut short because he only grew to five foot six inches tall.
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